Bottom strip seat frame connection



NOV. 9, 1937. D SARGENT 2,098,649

BOTTOM STRIP SEAT FRAME CONNECTION Filed April 1, 1935 Patented Nov. 9,1937 PATENT OFFICE BOTTOM STRIP SEAT FRAME CONNECTION Donald E. Sargent,Jackson,'Mich., assignor to Reynolds Spring Company, Jackson, Mich., acorporation of Delaware Application April 1,

9 Claims.

W This invention relates to seat cushion structures and moreparticularly to connections between the frames and bottom strips of suchstructures.

' Seat frame and bottom strip connections of the priorart have been inmany instances unsatisfactory for the reason that they are not strongenough to withstand the strains incident to transportation, handling anduse. Consequently, connections often opened, rendering the structure ofwhich they were a part unsatisfactory for use. A particularlydisadvantageous feature of some of the prior art connections is that,due to their design, thebottom strips can be rotated in one direotionwith respect to the frame without materially' deforming the parts, toopen the connections. 1 The present invention comprises a connectionwhich is rigid and cannot open without seriously deforming either theframe, the bottom strip or both, andwhich will not open as the result ofordinary rough usage. Anobject of the invention is to provide aconnection-between a bottom strip and frame of a seat cushion structurewherein-an end of the bottom strip is slit to provide portions forclamping on opposite sides of a portion of the frame.

Another object is to provide a strip and frame connection wherein theparts are maintained against relative rotation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottom strip and frameconnection which is rigid against rotation in any direction and whichmay be applied to numerous types of frames.

A still further object is to provide a novel connecting joint of generalapplication.

These and other objects will be apparent from the followingspecification when taken with the accompanying drawing, in which i Fig.1 is a partial plan View of aseat cushion structure having frame andbottom strip connections according to this invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an end of a bottom strip partiallyformed, ready for connection to the frame,

Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a modified connection with a framesimilar to that shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 4 illustratingthe invention applied to another type of frame, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 4 illustratingthe invention applied to still 55 another type of frame.

1935, Serial No. 14,039

Referring to the drawing, the bottom frame I is provided with aplurality of transverse bottom strips 2 rigidly spacing the frame andproviding a base upon which the structure rests. A plurality of verticalborder helicals 3 are secured to the frame I at spaced points 4, and aplurality of other helicals 5 are arranged inwardly of the borderhelicals 3. U-bars 6 are pinched on the lower coils of the helicals tomaintain them in fixed spaced relation.

As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, the ends of the bottom stripsare provided with two slits forming three tongues I, 8, and 9. In theform of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4, the tongues Iand 9 have upstanding ends and II. The tongues 1 and 9 are relativelydownwardly spaced from the tongue 8.

The frame I has an upper inwardly facing channel I5. When it happensthat a helical 3 and a bottom strip 2 are both secured to the frame I atthe same point, the lower tongues I and 9 and the lower coil l6 of thehelical 3 are all inserted in the channel [5. They are rigidly securedin the channel 15 by wrapping the upper tongue 8 over and around theoutside of the channel 15, and pinching the entire assembly together. Asthe tongue 8 extends around the channel I and over the end of thetongues I and 9, the tongue 8 is somewhat longer than the other two.

As will be apparent from inspection of Fig. 3, the upstanding bends l0and II extend behind the lower coil l6 of the helical 3, the lower coill6 resting on the tongues I and 9, and together with the tongues i and 9and the coil 16 is firmly held in the channel I5, which during thepinching is somewhat distorted to more closely engage the parts therein.The rigidity of the connection thus depends not only on the tongues I,8, and 9, but also on the channel 15 itself.

Fig. 4 illustrates a section wherein the bottom strip 2 is connected tothe frame I at a point spaced from the helicals 3. In this case, whenthe channel l5 and the tongue 8 are pinched on the tongues I and 9, thechannel 15 is distorted to a somewhat different shape than that in Fig.3, to follow the outline of the tongues l and 9 alone. However, theprinciple is the same, the only difference from Fig. 3 being the absenceof the coil IS.

A modification is illustrated in Fig. 5. In that form of the invention,the upstanding bends l0 and II on the tongues 1 and 9, respectively, areomitted. These upstanding bends l0 and II are not an essential featureof the invention, and the tongues 'I and 9 may be used without themeither in or out of association with the bottom coils of the borderhelicals 3. In this modification, as in the embodiment first described,however, the outer tongues are clamped or pinched in the upper inwardlyfacing channelv of the frame I.

The invention applied to a different frame is illustrated in Fig. 6.Therein the familiar 8 frame I! is shown connected to a bottom stripaccording to the teachings of my invention.

In Fig. 7, the invention as applied to the tacking strip 3 isillustrated. In that form the central tongue [9 for wrapping around theinwardly extending channel is somewhat longer than the correspondingtongue in the other showings, for the reason that it extends around anentire side of the tacking strip.

As stated herein above, the upstanding bends are not essential to thesuccessful use of myinvention. Likewise, the length of the tongues 8 andi9 may be varied. The length of tongue actually used depends on the;actual requirements of the frame. Generally the tongue lengths in theconnections shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are most satisfactory.However, the tongue lengths; and particularly that in the connectionshown in Fig. 7 may be shortened. Insuchconnections the tongue mayextend downwardly only to the body of the tacking strip l8, withoutmaterially reducing the rigidity and strength of the connection.

' In the claims, it is to be understood that the term overlapping shouldbe construed not only in its usual sense, but also broadly enough toinclude the constructions shown in the drawing, wherein a trueoverlapping could only occur by displacing one or more of the tonguessidewise to move them into superimposed relation;

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure, by LettersPatent and claim is:

1'. In a cushion spring structure of the class described, thecombination of a bottom strip, a plurality of sheet metal tongues on oneend thereof, said tongues comprising integral extensions from saidbottom strip and at least one of them being deflected from the plane ofsaid bottom strip, and a frame having a sheet metal portion defining achannel receiving and clamping one of said tongues, another of saidtongues extending into contacting and overlapping interlocking relationwith a part at least of said frame portion to cooperate with saidchannel received tongue to lock said strip to said frame.

2. In a cushion spring structure of the class described, the combinationof a bottom strip, three tongues disposed in substantial alignment onone end thereof, and a frame having a sheet metal portion defining arecess receiving the ,two outer tongues, the center one of said tonguesextending into overlapping and locking relation with said frame portion.

3. In a cushion spring structure of the class described, the combinationof a bottom strip, a plurality of tongues on one end thereof, and aframe, said frame providing inwardly thereof a channel in which one ofsaid tongues is received, another of said tongues overlapping andcontacting at least one side of and the back of said channel.

4. A combination of a bottom strip, three tongues disposed insubstantial alignment on one end thereof, and a frame having a laterallyextending channel receiving the two outer tongues, the center one ofsaid tongues overlapping at least one side of and the back of saidchannel.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a bottomstrip, a plurality of tongues on one end thereof, and a frame, saidframe providing inwardly thereof a channel in which one of said tonguesis received, said received tongue having a deflected end, interlockingwith said channel another of saidtongues overlapping at least one sideof, and the web of, said channel.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a bottomstrip, a plurality of tongues on one end thereof, a frame having aportion defining means receiving one of said tongues, and a springhaving a coil, said coil being received in said means together with saidreceived tongue, another of said tongues overlapping said frame portion.

7'. In, a structure of the class described, the combination of a bottomstrip, a plurality of tongues on one end thereof, a frame having a portion defining means receiving one of said tongues, and a spring having acoil, said coil being received in saidmeans together with saidreceivedtongue and resting on said tongue, another of said tonguesoverlapping said frame portion.

8. In a cushion spring structure a framework comprising a pair ofmembers, an inwardly facing channel having an outwardly facing rearportion defined by one of said members, a portion of said other memberextending into the open side of said channel and clamped therein, asecond portion of said other member extending. around said first namedmembers and. embracing, the closed side of said channel tointerlo'cksaid members.

9. In a cushion spring structure, a base. frame in verticalcross-section defining an inwardly facing channel having an outwardlyextending rear portion, a bracing member having a portion thereofextending into and clamped by said channel and another portion of saidmember contacting and embracing the outwardly extending portion of saidchannel and interlocking said frame and member.

DONALD E. SAR'GENT-

